Tag: <span>style</span>

So here we are….we made it to freedom day (whatever the heck that even means!). Now faced with a prospect of a so-coined summer of fun (that is if we don’t get pinged and have to isolate like half of the country), mingling with more people and going to more places, that actually means that we have to start looking presentable again! But if you have been spending most days in a onesie (as I have) and feel your brow beading with sweat at the idea of having to look stylish again, then fear not people! We have rounded up the best in advice on how to ease yourself back into dressing up again as we all run (or stagger) into the sunshine and embrace whatever version your summer of fun looks like.

Read on for tips on reiscovering the joy of dressing up from Style Coach Janine Coney at Own Your Style; Jacynth Bassett, founder of age-inclusive online fashion boutique The Bias Cut and ‘ageism fighting trailblazer’ Jacynth Bassett; and Donna McCulloch, Stylist to the stars and Fashion Editor at Style Nest.

First up: reconnect with your wardrobe

Start by reconnecting with your wardrobe after all it should feel like your own personal boutique – when you open the doors it should have clothes that you love to wear, suit your style, your lifestyle, that fit you and make you feel great. Take some time going through it, pull out the pieces you love, say goodbye, and put aside to give away, sell or recycle the pieces that you no longer love. After all this is the perfect time to hit the reset button and curate a wardrobe that really works for you!

Have a play

Play with items already in your own wardrobe, pull out a top and find three different ways to style it. Pull on a pair of jeans and think of three ways you can add your own signature style to your look with what you wear through colour, accessories or even layering!

Seek out Pinspiration

Start a Pinterest board and use it as inspiration for your dressing up reboot – head into your wardrobe and see if you can recreate any of the looks you love. It’s incredible how many pieces that go unworn in a wardrobe. Women wear 20% of their wardrobes – that’s 80% sat there waiting for you to rediscover it.

*Janine Coney, Founder & Style Director at Own Your Style and the joys of reconnecting with your wardrobe*

Go neutral

Neutrals should make up about 60% of your wardrobe and neutrals remain a key trend for summer going through to Autumn and winter too – investing in neutrals is always a good choice and look for quality over quantity as neutral pieces have the longevity we should all desire in our wardrobes in our 40s and beyond

Say it with a statement dress

We all need that go-to feel good piece in our wardrobe that we can rely on for dressing up in. But rather than the classic LBD, opt for a beautiful statement dress, or chic jumpsuit that you can effortlessly slip on, and instantly feel great in.

Colours and prints are your friends

Don’t be afraid of colour or print when dressing up – wearing something that’s bright and joyful will boost your mood and your confidence will shine through

Balance things out with….trainers!

Pair a more dressy item such as a printed dress or jumpsuit with a pair of trainers. It will help ground the look – so you don’t go immediately from 0 to 100 on the glamour scale – and adds a cool, effortless vibe.

Or opt for a statement shoe

A statement (but comfortable) shoe is a very easy way to elevate a look.

Accessorise baby!

Never underestimate the power of accessories; belts, bags & jewellery can take a look from zero to hero. Here are some recommendations to get you started:

Jump to it with a jumpsuit

If the thought of dressing up still scares you then ease yourself out of loungewear with a jumpsuit, they don’t feel too dressy and can be styled up or down. Add heels or trainers depending on your mood.

Remember, dressing up again doesn’t have to feel hairy scary again with the latest restrictions easing. But with just a few tweaks and unearthing the right items from the back of our wardrobes, we can start to look and feel awesome again. What will your go-to piece for going out be?

Do leave a comment and connect with us on Instagram here where we love to chat all things being in your 40s.

Cover picture credit: Maria Orlova from Pexels; Maryia Plashchynskaya, Polina Tankilevitch, Artem Beliaikin, Bella Zhong from Pexels

We wait all year for summer here in the UK. We spend 10 months complaining about the rain, the drizzle, the wind and the freezing cold. We talk incessantly about summer plans, hopes and dreams of picnicking by the riverside . Then, from depths of hell itself, an unspeakable heat descends upon us so unexpectedly. Taken by complete surprise, our un-pedicured tootsies shudder as they are thrust into the trusty Havaianas once more and we fret about how to keep cool.

What’s happened to the spring season I remember so fondly in the 80s? One day we are wrapped up in our down and duck parkas, the next, frantically searching for the denim cut offs we panic made last summer.

It’s too hot!

The general moaning begins within 24 hours of summer’s unexpected arrival. And I admit to it myself because there are times when it’s just too damn hot. I used to LOVE the heat. I would slather myself in tanning oil and roast from dawn to dusk in a bid to achieve the ultimate tan. These days I’m more concerned with melanoma and happily shade when I can and cover the rest of me in factor 40. I’m dreading the thought of hot flashes in the summer. During lockdown we invested in Dyson cool tower fan. Although it was insanely expensive, it’s worth every single penny even if we only use it for 3 days a year!

What’s a girl to do?

How to keep cool

I keep the ice packs from the Gousto box. They are fantastic for when you need a quick cool me down. I put them on my head, back and tummy, quick wipe down with an antibac and back into the freezer. I keep mini ice packs to hand for the wrists and back of knees. If I’m desperate I simply run my wrists under cold water for a moment to regain my composure.

As I’ve gotten older, I really struggle with what to wear in the summer. Varicose veins now plague my once perfect pins so short shorts are simply not an option. I prefer to cover my arms a little due to the 18 year old me that wanted that tattoo that time. I still like it because it’s a part of my history but there are times I wonder what the f*ck I was thinking. If there’s a secret to keeping the bingo wings at bay in the humidity without risking a faint stench of b/o do let me know.

What to wear

Meet style consultant, Penny Bennett. The first time I met Penny, my jaw dropped. She was not only beautiful but she was wearing the most fabulous ensemble. She was destined for the fashion world and it comes as no surprise to see her thriving in her empire.

Penny has trained Personal Shoppers from the High Street’s top clothing brands and regularly teaches Personal Styling at the London College of Fashion. She has also been reviewed by Grazia magazine, and been interviewed by the Telegraph, FT and featured on Talk Radio.

Penny’s philosophy

I talked to Penny about summer recommendations. Here’s what she had to offer:

‘As an Aussie in London, I take to high-summer dressing like a duck to water but I know so many of my clients struggle when temperatures sky rocket. Here are 5 things you can do to look and stay cool.’

1. Elevate your basic T-shirts with the right jewellery. Asymmetry is interesting for the eye and I love the architectural earrings from COS.

2. Get playful with colour. Summer is a great time to go brighter and lighter shades will keep you cool.

3. The right shoe can do all the hard work in levelling up your dressing so you feel pulled together when wearing your relaxed summer basics.

4. Swot up on your fabrics. Some textures may feel like cotton but are actually synthetics like polyester that don’t allow your body to breathe (read: make you sweat… a lot). Massimo Dutti has a great range of linen shirts. Just remember to go oversized and roll up the sleeves.

5. Add a sleeveless jacket to your favourite cotton maxi dress and suddenly you feel work appropriate without working up a sweat. I just bought this one from H&M.

We hope these tips help you get through the next few months. As if we ever need an excuse to online shop!